Clamp for concrete forms



1,616,460 P. A. MELVIN Feb. s, 1921.

I CLAMP FOR- CONCRETE FORMS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 11, 1926 M. II||MHM Mv/ WMI JL Feb. s, 1927.

' P. A. Ml-:LvlN

'. CLAMP FOR CONCRETE FORMS Filed Marsh 11,- 192s 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 2,2"722/6752 for? Jaaa? ely'vz Feb. 8, 1927. 1,616,460

P. A. MELvlN CLAMP .FOR CONCRETE FORMS "l V Filed Maron 11, 1926 3 sheets-sheets '2a .526 lmllll O l ft .fz

CAD

Patented Feb. 8, 1927.

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PAUL A. MELvIIv, or oIeIIaaefo,` ILLINOIS.

CLAMP FOR CONCRETE FORMS.

Application led March 11,'1928.

This invention relates to an improved clamp for concrete or other forms, requiring clamping devices, and refers more particularly to forms for the construction of columns and the like, 'one of the objects of this invention being to provide clamping means for holding the form, panels or sides in a Xed position while the void is being filled with concrete or other materials, and while same is becoming hardenedA or set.

A. further object is to provide a clamping device of simple construction, and one in which all the parts are intact and interchangeable, so that no fitting or selection of loose parts or keys of the vdiiferentsections of this clamp is required preparatory to putting it on the form.

The improved clamp of the present invention may be utilized any number of times without the lloss or replacement `of parts or keys thereby effecting a great saving in material and labor. Briefly, the clamp of the present invention comprises straps or bars, each unit being preferably rein-V forced at one end, which 1s accomplished.

by return bending a portion of the strap or bar through which the non-reinforced or plain end of an adjacent unit is adapted to be inserted. The outer lateral edge of the plain end of each bar may be provided with meshing elements adapted to mesh lwith a movable chuck having a center arm provided with similar meshing elements, which in turn are wedged into locking engagement with the meshing elements on the bar by means of a loose non-removable wedge shaped key. j

A prime feature of the present invention is the provision of an adjustable chuck and key permanently mounted on the return-bent end of each strap or bar, thus preventing loss of these parts when the clamp is being stripped or transferred from one location to another. The present invention obviates numerous difliculties encountered in various other clamps on the market provided with loose keys, some of said objections being the loss of these keys and the costly operation of punching the hardened concrete drippings from the' apertures with which the nails or keys register and the chipping of hardened concrete from the surface of the clamp before the mounted parts are free and adjustable. The present invention requires no jacks or tighteners to posion line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Serial No. 93,874. Y

tion the various clamp units, this function being accomplished by means of the chuck and key, thus eliminating a costly tool and several labor operations. i

Various other advantages andl objects will be .more apparent from the following description. A s

Fig. l is a plan View and Fig. 2 a side eleva-tional view illustrating the application of one of my improved clamps installed on a column.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail topl plan view with the reinforced return-bent end removed to more clearly show the operation of the various parts at one corner.

F ig. et is a cross sectional view taken Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 6 showing taper and meshing elements.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged front view of the chuck looking at its teeth. j

Fig. 7 is a detail plan view of a slightly modified construction in which a fixed shim is substituted for the chuck and a non-los-y lzblzl key is provided at theen'd of the return en Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view taken on. line 8 8 of Fig. 7 showing the shim andv key in a Working position. Y t

Fig. 9 is a plan viewof another modified form of construction in which a slotted key abuts the outer edge of the reinforced endl of the bar.

Fig. l0 is a cross sectional viewjtaken on line 10--10 of Fig. '9.

Fig. 11 is a cross sectional view taken on line 11--11 of Fig. 10 illustrating the locking device which supports the key.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 6', l designates a column form which may be of any shape and which is sho-wn ascomprising parts set on edge and mounted adjacent each other. 2 designates as a whole-'each clamp unit as assembled, which comprises a bar or arm 3 formedof strap metal, one end of which is turned back upon itself as shown at 4 for the purpose ofproviding a reinforced end anda groovef in which to insert the plain end offan 'adjacent bar. The end of each bar 3 opposite the reinforced end, may be provided on its outer edge with teeth, dogs or similar meshing elements 6 adapted to have locking engagement with a chuck.

Referring Vmore in detail to Figs. 3 to 6, it will be seen that the chuck comprises a metal casting having parallel adjacent sides 8 and a center arm 9. One lateral edge of the center arm 9 is provided with meshing elements 10 which may comprise dogs, teeth or other meshing elements similar tothe vmeshing elements 6 on the bar 3. The opposite lateral edg-eof said center arm 9 is tapered las shown at 11 for the purpose of vadjustment when wedged with the tapered side 12 of the loose non-removable key13. This loose non-removable key-13 is preferably provided with turned ends 111 which function to prevent vloss of key when the clamp is not in operation.

The center arm 9 of each chuck is provided intermediate its length with a closed aperture 9 adapted to receive a locking element such as a cotter pin or thel like,

j which prevents accidental loss ofthe chuck and key 13 when the clamp is not in use. It must be particularlyl noted, that th-e sides 15 adjacent apertures 16 6) are tapered inwardly to a width corresponding to the width of the meshing elements 10 for the purpose of automatically centering the end of theV arm 3 carrying the meshing elements 6.

yAs another feature of the present invention, the outer edge of the return bent reini forced end of each bar 3'is tapered outwardly at 15 from a point on the return bent end and terminating short of the termination of the end of the return bend. The chuck is similarly tapered las shown at l16, (Fig. 5) the purposes of which will be hereinafter explained. The outer end of each "return vb-end may b-e provided withthe aperture 17 registering `with the aperture -18 intermediate the length of each bar.3.

. The purpose of these apertures 17 and 18 is to vpermit. the insertion of a nail 19 or other temporary locking element after the four corners of the clamp have been temporarily placed in position and the chucks and pinsV temporarily tightened. This allows .aunit `of two sections'to be raised to positionin one operation.

Each bar 3, chuck 7 and key 13 are made uniform in order that they may bev used interchangeably, and four units are required to make a complete clamp to surround a rectangualr form. It 'is to vbe noted that the sidesS of each chuck 7 project `inwardly groove 5 in the reinforced return bent end of an adjacent bar 3. The'key 13 and chuck have been previously adjusted to a released position in groove 5. The meshing elements 6 of bar 3 are then engaged with the meshing elements on the center arm 9 of the chuck.

The tapered edge 12 of the key 13 is then forced against thetapered edge 11 of the center arm 9, tightening the connection between said meshing elements and causing the two ends of adjacent units to be drawn together. This two-way adjustment is accomplishedby means of the engagement between the tapered edge 15 on the return bent reinforced end, and the tapered edge 16 of the chuck. As the chuck moves forward on the tapered surface 15, it will act to automatically pull one of the bars 3 with it, while at the same time riding forward y on the adjacent bar 3, thus simultaneously adjusting opposite ends of two adjacent bars. The nail shown diagrammatically at 19 may be inserted inthe apertures 17 andl 18, this nail 19 being temporarily placed therein to form a tight right angle which will facilitate the erection or raising of the clamp in sections or units. 1t may be here stated that this nail should be removed before stripping, its only object being to facilitate the erection of two engaged units. After the complete clamp has been raised to the height desired, the keys 13 inthe corners opposite to those carrying the nails are tightened, and as heretofore explained this operation will serve to draw both ends of adjacent bars together into tight locking engagement, thus accomplishing the resultdesired. Inv dissembling and stripping the clamp, itis only necessary to vtap the key with a slight blow on its small end, thus releasing the chuck from engagement.

As a feature of the invention, it may be brought out that the bevel or taper 15 shown in the reinforced end of each bar register'- ing with the bevel 16 on each chuck will serve to immediately disengage the meshing elements of the chuck and bar from locking engagement7 thus eliminating all friction. The advantages of this will be apparent to those skilled in this art. After the keys have been released by being tapped on their small end, they will be prevented from loss by Lmeans of the bent ends 111.Y

The chuck automaticallyv vmoves out of engagement with the bar 3 to permit of easy stripping. The plain endsl are disengageable through the open grooves 5.

The hole 9 in the extension 9 of the 15 so that when the chuck has moved forllU ward to the point where the taper 15 ends,`

Cab

to keep both key and chuck mounted on the reinforced-end of each bar at yall ,times While at jthe same time the chuck or lkey can be replaced very easily by removignates a column form'and 3 designates individual bars or arms, each bar ory arm being provided with ymeshing elements' 6 similar to the meshing element-s shown in Fig. 1, and also with the return bent reinforced end 4 as shown. Instead of the key being horizontally adjustable in combination with a chuck, I aperture the reinforced end as `shown at 17 for the purpose of inserting a key 18 which may take the form of av gooseneck, if desired, provided at oneend With the retaining stud 19, its other end being Wider than the aperture 17 las shoivn at 20. The key is preferablyof Wedge shape, that is, it'tapers outwardly from its small end, and is preferably in the form 'of a goos'eneck as'shown, in order to retain the key in position on the reinforced end at all times. The operation of this gooseneck form of key is clearly shovvn in dotted lines in Fig. S. Adjacent the bend in the reinforced end, the construction shown in Figs. 7 and S is provided, or has inserted in the groove formed thereby, a slotted filler 21 functioning as a shim and having a slot equal to the Width of the key at its small end. The function of this filler is to provide aI smooth slidable surface for the adjacent edge of a bar inserted therein.

Referring more. particularly to the modifications shoWn in Figs. 9, 10- and 11, the column form is shovvn at 1, and 3 designates adjacent bars or arms of the clamp. One end of the bar 3 is provided With meshing elements 6 such as notches, dogs, 4teeth or the like, and the other end is providedl with the reinforced return bent end 4. In this construction each key 22 takes the form of a centrally slotted key having an edge 23 parallel with the outer edges of each arm 3 and a tapered edge 24 at an angle to the edge of each bar-3. The key is insertable on the plain end of each bar 3 and prevented from accidental displacement and loss by means of the rivet or similar element 25. This key is adjusted on the plain end of each bar 3 against the reinforced'end 4 by means of the adjustable locking element 26, Which is similar in form to the key 22 being cen trally apertured as shown at 27. This locking element is movable in either direction This may be' and adapted to mesh With ythe'meshing elements 6 on the bar 3, thus holding the outer edge of the key in a fixed position ready to be tightened. of the` locking element 26 vis forced into mesh With the meshing elements 6 thus forcing the key 22 against the reinforced end 4 of each bar 3, and in dissembling the other end 29 is tapped to disengage the end 28 from mesh with the meshing element' 6, and e the key is slidable on the plain end of the bar 3, said plain end vof the'bar being movable laterally in the groove formed by the return bent end to release adjacent ele-` ments from engagement. f

It will be immediately obvious that the clamp shown in the present invention eliminates the possibility of loss of keys andthe great expense in vreplacing same, as Well Aas eliminating the various expensive labor ln assembling, one edge 28k operations necessary to clean and vremove j concrete from the arms and apertures in the standard form of clamp- Which is no iv neces-y units, each unit comprising a bar of sub' stantial length, one end of which is return bentand spaced fromV the body of the bar, the other end on its outer lateral edge being provided with meshing elements, and means movable relative to the return bent end of a bar adapted to engage the lmeshing elements on the lateral edge of an adjacent bar.

A column clamp, comprising connected units, each unit comprising a bar, one end of which is return bent andy spaced from the body of the bar, a lateral edge of the other end being provided with meshing elements, and means movable on the return bent end of a bar including a'chuck having meshing elements and a Wedging pin, functioning with the Wedging of the pin to cause the meshing elements on the chuck to register With the meshing elements on a lateral edge of an adjacent bar placed in said spaced return bend.

3. A column clamp, comprising connected units, each unit comprising a bar, one end of which is return bent and spaced from units, each unit comprising a bar, one end of Which is return bent and spaced from the body of the bar, a lateral edge of the other end being provided with meshing eledisplacement from their loosely mounted pon sition on the return bent end When the units are assembled, but permitting ready intentional removal.

5. Acolumn clamp, comprising connected units, each unit vcomprising a bar, one end of whichk is return bent and spaced from the body of the. bar, a lateral edge of the other end being provided With meshing elements, a chuck having meshing elements and Wedge non-removably mounted on the y.return bent end of the bar, and movable 1n said space between the return bent end and body of the bar against the end of an adjacent bar inserted in said space to mesh with and lock adjacent Lends of adjacent units together, opposed lateraledges of the chuck and yWedge being tapered.

6. A column cla-mp, comprising connected units,` each unit comprising a bar, one end of Which is return bentand spaced from the body of the bar, a lateral edge of the other assignee() end being provided With meshing elements,

a chuck having meshingelements and Wedge non-removably mounted on ythe 'return bent end ot' the bar, and movable. insaid space between the return bentend and body of. the bar against the end of an adjacent bar'` inserted in said space. to mesh with and lock v adjacent ends of adjacent vunits together,

theouter lateral edge oteach return bendl being tapered for a portion of its length adapted to register With tapered edges on the chuck Jfor facilitating, assembly and dissembly.

7. A column clamp, comprising connected j units, each unit comprising a bar, one end .oit which 1s return bent andA spaced from the body of the bar, a'lateral edge of the other end being provided with meshing elements, and means movable on the return bent end of a bar including a chuck having meshing elements and a Wedging pinyfune` tioning With the rvvedging of the pin to cause the meshing elements on the chuck to register with the meshing elements on a lateral edge of an adjacent bar placed in said spaced return bend7 said Wedging pin being moved into and out of Wedging en gageinent 1n substantially a horizontal plane relative to the plane of the column being clamped.

' PAUL A. MELVIN.l 

